head off

verb

headed off; heading off; heads off
Synonyms of head offnext

transitive verb

: to turn back or turn aside : block, prevent
head them off at the pass
attempts to head off the imminent crisis

intransitive verb

: to go to another place
See you later—I'm heading off to work.

Synonyms of head off

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Examples of head off in a Sentence

if we act quickly, we may still be able to head off disaster
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Later that morning, 17-year-old Anthony and 14-year-old Diane headed off to school. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026 With too much shotgun recoil, shooters tend to pull their head off the stock or get inconsistent with their gun mount. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026 Giada De Laurentiis’s daughter, Jade, is heading off to college—New York University, specifically—and the chef and her ex-husband Todd Thompson reunited to celebrate the milestone. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 11 Aug. 2026 Finally, heading off to senior year wearing a Care Bears backpack could be a coping mechanism that helps teens deal with fears about the future. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head off

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of head off was in 1825

Rhymes for head off

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Browse Nearby Words

headnote
head off
head of horns
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Head off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head%20off. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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